This title shall be known as, and may be cited and referred to as, the "Zoning Ordinance of Kern County."

(Prior code § 7000.01)

This title is adopted to promote and protect the public health, safety and welfare through the orderly regulation of land uses throughout the unincorporated area of the county. Further, the purposes of this title are to:

A.

Provide the economic and social advantages resulting from an orderly planned use of land resources;

B.

Encourage and guide development consistent with the Kern County general plan;

C.

Divide Kern County into zoning districts of a number, size and location deemed necessary to carry out the purposes of the county general plan and this title;

D.

Regulate the size and use of lots, yards and other open spaces;

E.

Regulate the use, location, height, bulk and size of buildings and structures;

F.

Regulate the intensity of land use;

G.

Regulate the density of population in residential areas;

H.

Establish requirements for off-street parking;

I.

Regulate signs and billboards;

J.

Provide for the enforcement of the regulations of this chapter.

(Prior code § 7000.02)

This title shall apply, to the extent permitted by law, to all property in unincorporated Kern County whether owned by private persons, firms, corporations or organizations; by the United States or any of its agencies; by the state of California or any of its agencies or political subdivisions; by any county or city, including the county of Kern; or by any authority or public entity organized under the laws of the state of California. Any governmental agency shall be exempt from the provisions of this title only to the extent that such property may not be lawfully regulated by the county of Kern.

(Prior code § 7000.03)

The regulations of this title and requirements or conditions imposed pursuant to this title shall not supersede any other regulations or requirements adopted or imposed by the county board of supervisors, the county fire department, the county health department, the regional water quality control board, the air pollution control district, the county public works department, the county water agency, or any other local, state or federal agency that has jurisdiction by law over uses and development authorized by this title. All uses and development authorized by this title shall comply with all other such regulations and requirements. Where two (2) or more ordinances regulate the same use or activity, the more restrictive ordinance shall apply.

(Prior code § 7000.06)

Any building or structure for which a building permit has been issued prior to the effective date of the ordinance from which this title derives may be completed and used in accordance with the plans, specifications and permits on which said building permit was granted, if construction is commenced within one (1) year after the issuance of such permit and diligently pursued to completion. No extensions of time shall be granted for commencement of construction.

(Prior code § 7000.07)

A.

It is unlawful for any building or structure to be moved, erected, used, altered, enlarged or rebuilt or for any use to be established or changed that does not strictly conform to the provisions of this title.

B.

It is unlawful for any yard, open space or land to be used for any purpose not specifically permitted by this title.

C.

Any uses not specifically permitted by the provisions of this title or accessory thereto under Section 19.08.111 are prohibited. All prohibited uses specified at any place within this title are examples only and are not to be construed as a complete listing of all prohibited uses.

D.

No department, official or employee of the county of Kern vested with the duty or authority to issue permits or licenses for buildings, structures or uses subject to the requirements of this title shall issue a permit or license in conflict with the provisions of this title; any permit or license issued in conflict with any provision of this title shall be null and void. Further, no permit or license shall be issued by any department, official or employee of the county of Kern for any building, structure or use subject to the requirements of this title on a parcel of land where the department, official or employee is aware that a violation of this title exists, except as provided for in Chapter 19.114 of this title.

(Ord. G-7189 § 2, 2005; Ord. G-7012 § 2, 2003; prior code § 7000.04)

Any person, firm or corporation using any building, structure or parcel of land in violation of any provision of this title is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law under Chapter 19.114 of this title.

(Prior code § 7000.05)